Public Hearing to Discuss Lefferts School Location
Supporters of the Lefferts Gardens Charter School should save Wednesday, February 10, for a public hearing at 6 pm at PS 92 (601 Parkside Avenue between Bedford and Rogers Avenues).
The school organizers are asking people to let the NYC Department of Education know that they want the school sited at PS 92 for its first few years (the school is hoping to find or build a permanent facility during that time). The DOE is obligated to give the school space during its "incubation" period, but it is not obligated to make it a conveniently located one. The more people that come out in favor, the more likely the DOE will chose PS 92, which, as far as I know, is the only available DOE space within the PLG boundary.
Wait, you ask, isn't there already a school there? Why, yes. But the current elementary school there isn't at full capacity. If LGCS is located there, the two schools would share the building, an increasingly common practice at city schools. The administration at PS 92 is unlikely to be very happy it, however; ditto the teachers union. So we can expect a fair amount of opposition. The Lefferts school -- and charter schools in general -- are seen as a threat to old-line public school admins. (For a little background on the teacher's union and arguments against the way New York public schools operate, see this one-sided but illuminating New Yorker article.)
Anyway, the Lefferts Gardens Charter School is also asking people to send letters of support to D17proposals (at) schools.nyc.gov stating that you'd like to see the school at PS 92. Every letter counts.
The school organizers are asking people to let the NYC Department of Education know that they want the school sited at PS 92 for its first few years (the school is hoping to find or build a permanent facility during that time). The DOE is obligated to give the school space during its "incubation" period, but it is not obligated to make it a conveniently located one. The more people that come out in favor, the more likely the DOE will chose PS 92, which, as far as I know, is the only available DOE space within the PLG boundary.
Wait, you ask, isn't there already a school there? Why, yes. But the current elementary school there isn't at full capacity. If LGCS is located there, the two schools would share the building, an increasingly common practice at city schools. The administration at PS 92 is unlikely to be very happy it, however; ditto the teachers union. So we can expect a fair amount of opposition. The Lefferts school -- and charter schools in general -- are seen as a threat to old-line public school admins. (For a little background on the teacher's union and arguments against the way New York public schools operate, see this one-sided but illuminating New Yorker article.)
Anyway, the Lefferts Gardens Charter School is also asking people to send letters of support to D17proposals (at) schools.nyc.gov stating that you'd like to see the school at PS 92. Every letter counts.
Don't use Steven Brill's piece in the New Yorker as support for your development of a charter school.
One, it's a pack of lies (I can get into that later, if you want to, but for now, just accept, from one honest UFTer, the fact that Brill is dishonest).
I am not automatically for or against charter schools--what I do oppose is the placement of charters or small schools in buildings which already are housing schools. The original schools are getting squeezed, their libraries and gyms are being taken over. In many situations, we're looking at separate, but really not equal, and we have to figure out how to meet the needs of all kids.
I teach high school in Crown Heights, live in PLG (in fact, my oldest daughter was in elementary school with Renee Ciccone, and I know her folks) and would be willing to answer any and all questions.
Joan Heymont
Posted by: Joan Heymont | January 28, 2010 at 07:00 PM